54 pages • 1 hour read
The Shards: A Novel
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Chapters 6-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: The section contains depictions of antigay bias, sexual violence, sexual harassment, substance use, graphic violence, graphic sexual content, cursing, and death.
Chapter 6 Summary
Bret feels disconnected from the high school scene. Unlike most of his peers, he was not upset that Ronald Reagan won the presidential election, and he only pretended to be upset over John Lennon’s assassination. Thom’s father takes Bret and Thom to the Super Bowl in January, but Bret is more interested in Thom than the game. They meet the NBC anchorperson Bryant Gumble. Four years later, Gumble will interview Bret on the Today show about Less Than Zero.
Bret wants to hang out with Ryan, but Ryan insists on “subterfuge.” Bret finishes Cujo and checks out the movies on the Z Channel (a subscription TV station that airs diverse films). Bret feels “haunted” by the song “Nowhere Girl” (1980), by B-Movie.
On Saturday, Debbie comes over before Susan and Thom. Debbie wonders if Bret truly likes her. She believes Bret has secrets and acts like a “zombie.” She wants Bret to be more “present.” They have sex, and Bret tries to express the “requisite lust.” While fantasizing about Ryan and Matt, he orgasms.
Debbie thinks Susan is attracted to Robert, and Bret believes Susan is more classically beautiful than Debbie, but Debbie has a “porn star” allure.
